Giants bring back Wood on 2-year deal
Left-hander Alex Wood is staying with the San Francisco Giants, reaching agreement Wednesday on a $25 million, two-year contract.
He gives manager Gabe Kapler two starters named Alex in the rotation after Tuesday’s addition of righthander Alex Cobb on a $20 million, two-year contract with a club option for 2024.
The 30-year-old Wood was 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA and 152 strikeouts over 26 starts.
San Francisco President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi needed to address the rotation after losing right-hander Kevin Gausman to the Blue Jays earlier this week on a $110 million, fiveyear contract.
Last week, right-hander Anthony DeSclafani received a $36 million, three-year deal to remain with the club.
TEAMS SPEND $1B AS LOCKOUT LOOKS LIKELY >> Major league teams committed to over $1 billion in salaries in one day for the first time Wednesday, hours before the league was expected to lock out the players following the 11:59 p.m. EST expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.
The Texas Rangers led the spending spree, finalizing deals with shortstop Corey Seager for $325 million over 10 years and infielder Marcus Semien for $175 million over seven years.
Ace Max Scherzer got $130 million over three years from the New York Mets, and right-hander Kevin Gausman landed with the Toronto Blue Jays for $110 million over five years. Twins center fielder Byron Buxton also finalized a $100 million, seven-year contract to remain with Minnesota.
The Tigers were also expected to finish a $140 million, six-year deal with shortstop Javier Báez.
The 16 deals and counting announced Wednesday totaled $1,011,250,000, part of more than $1.9 billion in new contacts handed out in the days ahead of the CBA expiration.
The union and league are likely headed for a protracted labor dispute after the average major league salary fell on opening day in 2021 for the fourth consecutive season.